In a HARDtalk interview on 1 November, Laszlo Kovacs, Hungarian Foreign Minister, talks to Tim Sebastian.

Hungary has said that joining the European Union is at the top of its agenda and is due to hold a referendum on joining in March 2003.

Hungary is one of ten countries due to join the European Union in 2004.

But the European Commissioner responsible for enlargement has acknowledged that there are still serious problems over admitting new members.

Tim Sebastian asks Mr Kovacs whether Hungary will be ready to join.

This interview can be watched in full on Friday 1 November on BBC World and BBC News 24 at the following times:

BBC News 24 (times shown in BST) 0430, repeated 2230

BBC World (times shown in GMT) 0330, repeated 0830, 1130, 1530, 1830, 2330